Southern California -- this just in

Hiker rescued from forest after 26 hours in the cold

January 13, 2013 | 10:22
pm

An Arcadia
man who was separated from friends while hiking in the Angeles National Forest was
located Sunday night and taken to a hospital after surviving 26 hours in
frigid temperatures, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.

Danny Kim,
28, was discovered by search-and-rescue personnel about 8 p.m. Sunday. He was
described as wet, injured and “extremely hypothermic.” Kim was airlifted by the Los
Angeles County Fire Department to a hospital, where he is in stable condition, Deputy Matt
Bodell said.

Kim and
two friends went hiking in the West Fork area of the forest and attempted to go
north on a trail in the late afternoon Saturday, Bodell said. Kim got separated
from the group about 6 p.m. and endured below-freezing temperatures overnight
as searchers tried to locate him.

Family
members described Kim as physically fit and “determined,” Bodell said, adding
that the average person could not have endured the cold. Kim had only a light
jacket and no flashlight, Bodell said, but search-and-rescue personnel found
him walking.

“If he had
sat down, that would have been a problem,” Bodell said.

Bodell
said Kim appeared to have sustained a small
injury to the back of his head. He was being treated for that injury and his
hypothermia Sunday night, Bodell said.